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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri is said to have received names of candidates to replace Taufiq Kiemas as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker.

'Five names have been submitted to Bu Mega. We submitted the names including considerations [about why they deserve] the candidacy,' said PDI-P faction secretary at the House of Representatives, Bambang Wuryanto, on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com.

The position of the MPR speaker is still vacant after Taufiq passed away on June 8. The deadline of the appointment of his substitute is July 7.

Pramono, former PDI-P secretary-general, currently serves as deputy speaker at the House. Tjahjo, the current PDI-P secretary-general, is currently active at Commission I, which oversees defense and security.

Puan, the granddaughter of Indonesia's first president Soekarno and Megawati's daughter from her marriage with the late Taufiq, is a lawmaker at Commission I. She currently chairs the PDI-P campaign team (Bapilu) and leads the party's faction at the House.

Yasonna is a lawmaker at Commission II, which oversees home affairs and regional autonomy.

The final name, touted as the strongest candidate to replace Taufiq, is Sidharto. He is currently the PDI-P honor's board chief, a member of Commission I, and deputy chairman of the House's Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (BKSAP). (hrl/ebf)